Trimming tool



Nov 27, 1928. 1,692,911 V. V. VAUGHN TRIMMING TOOL Filed Nov. 1, 1926 VA TTORNEY l atented Nov. 27, 1928.

P ATE VERSAL V. VAUGHN, 035 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TRIP/[MING TOOL.

Application filed November 1. 1926.

This invention relates to and has for a main object the provision of animproved type of tool which is adapted for cleaning the surface ofstorage battery terminals such as are used in motor cars and inconnection with radio sets, and for other purposes, whereby theterminals which generally corrode to a large extent can be cleaned andresurfaced quickly and nicely.

Another object is to provide an improved type of tool over that shown inmy pending application for trimmers,- filed Oct. 19, 1926; Serial Number63,346.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedtool having.

the general form and characteristics of a pair of pliers, arranged witha trimming tool mounted on one of the handles thereof, and provided witha tapered cutting edge termed so as to embrace a battery terminal insuch a manner that the cutting edge will be resiliently held against thetapered ter minal, and will conform itself to the size the terminal,whereby when rotated about the terminal the outer surface thereof willbe trimmed preparatory to attaching the usual connectors thereto.

Another object is to provide in a tool of the character described, inconnection with a pair of pliers for supporting the tool on the handlethereof, aws formed on opposite ends of the plier halves and providedwith nut receiving notches, whereby the same tool may be employed as awrench for removing and attaching nuts from and to the connector bolts,respectively.

Other and more detailed objects of invention will appear as thedescription progresses.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a battery with a terminal thereon, and myimproved tool shown in operative relation thereto.

Fig. 2 is a substantially full-sized view of my complete tool.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the wrench awe of the same.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sect-ion on line 4:4: of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the trimming tool attached to the pliersshown in Fig. 1.

In the consideration of this invention, it will he understood that theusual battery terminals t are of larger diameter at their lower SerialNo 145,485.

extremities than at their upper extremities, in order that connectors ofdifferent size, by means of which the wires are attached to the battery,may be frictionally held on the terminals. Accordingly, I have provideda tool which is tapered corresponding to the taper of the terminals 5',and formed of tempered spring steel provided with a, single cutting edgeat the end of an arcuate portion, which is formed on a radius less thanthe radius of tl e terminal 75.

The terminal trimming tool is adapted to be mounted on a well-known formof tool, as shown in Fig. 1, composed of substantially like portions A.and A, with enlarged body portions a and a respectively, pivotally heldtogether by means of a rivet or bolt P, and formed with extended handlesH and H and jaws J and J, respectively, on opposite sides of the pivotP.

The trimming tool T is formed of a single piece of tempered springsteel, with a slightly curved attaching portion 6, having perforations 0therein adapted to abut the end of the handle H or H, and to be securedthereto by means of one or more rivets or screws, as at r. The slightareformed in the portion B of said tool serves substantially as a lockwasher so that the tool T will be held in tension and against accidentalremoval from the handle H;

Forwardly of the portion 7) a short extension 9 is provided which flaresoutwardly to a slight extent, and on the opposite side portion I; iscontinued in a side portion cl, which joins with an arc-uate portion 7formed on a radius which is less than the radius of the terminal t. Thearcuate portion f terminates in a cutting edge e, which is substantiallyspaced from the'edge e of the portion 9 and is adapted to engage theouter surface of the battery terminal 6 when the device is in use.

The cross section of the tool T, as shown in Fig. 4,- is such that theterminals t will have a bearing on the portion d at a point on theperiphery of the terminal 25 and also at other peripheral points on theedges 6 and e. The opening between the edges 6 and e is so positionedthat said edges will touch the periphery of the terminal 25 at equallyspaced points from and on opposite sides of a transverse line cuttingthe axis of the terminal t, as indicated in Fig. 4, while the arcuatethe surface of the terminal as will also be the attaching portion 6. Theportions (Z, 7, and g of the tool T are tapered throughout the lengththereof so that the tool at the bottom will be of slightly larger areathan at the top, 7

the taper thereot conforming, as herein stated, to the taper oil' theterminal 6.

As shown in Fig. l the pliers comprising the pivotally connectedportions A and A are held in the hand vertically, and the tool I isforced downwardly over the terminal 6, the resiliency of the toolserving to spread the edges 6 and e apart the tool is moved downwardlyover said terminal. Thereafter the tool may be rotated in a clockwisedirection as seen in Fig. 4, so that the cutting edge 6 will beresiliently held in engagement with the periphery of the terminal t, andserve to cut away the corroded substances and provide a clean surfacefor the reception of an ordinary battery terminal connector, whereuponthe tool may be removed by pulling the same upwardly and the resiliencyof the tool will effect a complete restoration of the tool to normalshape.

Connectors such as are used on battery terminals are usually providedwith bolts for frictionally holding the connectors on the terminals, andit is necessary in order to remove the same from or attach the same, toremove or attach nuts, as at N in Fig. 3, from said bolts. It isdesirable, therefore, that a tool for resurfacing the terminals shouldalso be provided for removing and attaching said nuts, and to th' s endI provide on the jaws J and J, respectively, of the plier members A andA, cooperating and similarly formed nut receiving portions which areprovided internally with a series of serrations or notches a, 41., etc.These notches are so arranged and disposed with respect to each other,andarc of such size that the corners Z, Z, etc, of the nut will seat inthe notches, while the facets 2, 2, etc, are disposed on lines as shownin Fig. 3.

Hexagonal nuts being common use, the normal size and i rrangelinent offthe notches m is such that the corners Z, Z, etc, will engage certain ofthe notch when the nuts are in a certain position, antL other of thenotches when the nuts are in still other positions. Thus, it will beobserved that when the batteries are inaccessibly or inconvenientlypositioned so as to a l'lord access to the nuts, it is quite difficult,it not impossible, by the use oi an ordinary wrench to move the nuts onthe bolts, while the jaws J and d" formed as shown, the notches m willengage the corners of the nuts irrespective of the particular positionof a. nut on a bolt, so that only a slight movement of the handles H andH will be necessary to remove the nut.

It will be understood, however, that the particular form of aws J and Jare not material to the particular form of the tool T, and it is furtherconceived to be possible to modify the form of the trimming tool fromthat shown without departing from the spirit of my invention,

What I claim is:

1. A'terminal trimming tool including a supporting member, a tool formedof spring steel, attached to said member, and provided with spacededges, one of said edges being a cutting edge, and a bearing portiontransversely opposite said edges, for receiving and trimming a batteryterminal, as described.

2. A terminal trimming tool including a supporting member, a. toolthereon tt'ormed of spring steel, and provided with spaced edges, one ofsaid edges being a cutting edge, a bearing portion opposite said edges,for receiving and trimming a battery terminal, said tool being taperedto conform to the taper of said terminal.

3. A terminal trimming tool including a supporting member, a .tool onone of said members formed of spring steel and provided with spacededges, one of said edges being a cutting edge, said tool having aportion opposite said edges forming a bearing and arranged for receivinga battery terminal, said tool provided with an arcuately formed portionadjacent said cutting edge,.

and an attaching portion engaging and for attachment to said supportingmember.

4. A terminal trimming tool embodying an integrally formed spring steelthe ends thereof spaced apart for engagement with a battery terminal,one of said ends forming a cutting edge, a portion of the tool adjacentsaid cutting edge forming a bearing adapted to cooperate with said edgestor trimming engagement with a battery terminal, as described.

5. A terminal trimming tool embodying an integral tapered metallicmember having an arcuate terminal receiving portion terminating in acutting edge, and an attaching portion with an edge spaced from saidcutting edge, the side opposite said edges forming a bearing foroperatively holding a terminal in engagement with the cutting edge.

6. A trimming tool comprising a handle,

cutter having and a trimmer supported thereon and formed of spring steelfor accommodation to diliierent sizes of terminal parts, saidtrimmerhaving an attaching portion and an arcuate terminal receivingportion with edges spaced apart, one of said edges. being a cuttingedge, for trimming the periphery of a. terminal when the tool isrotated.

7 A trimming tool for battery terminal posts comprising a handle, anintegral spring steel tool attached thereto bent to form an attachingportion and a terminal receiving portion with its edges spaced apart,one of said edges being a cutting edge, the terminal receiving portionbeing yieldable relative to the attaching portion for accommodating thetool to terminals of different size.

VERSAL V. VAUGHN.

